Holder or mail-box.



C. 0. KBAGY dz vJ. R. C'ARMER.

HOLDER 0R MAIL BOX.

l APPLIOATION FILED APR.17, 1911. 1,@18,9l 3.

J A .l .LWTII il EF@ v 4% Patented Feb. 2'?, 1912.

Z 7a2/@2z 57 0.][9

UNITED STATES-EXTENT OFFICE. Y

CI-I'ARLES O'. KEAGY AND JAMES R. CARMER, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

HOLDER OR MAIL-BOX.

Patented Feb. 27, 1912.

Serial No. 621,614.

ber coperating therewith and expansible relatively to the support or backing when manually elevated to increase its capacity within predetermined limits or in accord ance with the dimensions of the device.

The invention further consists of a support or backing having a gravitating front or holding member with a movable bottom section which forms a continuation of the Y backing when the said gravitating front is fully closed down and gradually performs the function of a bottom closure in proportion to the upward movement and outward position of .the said gravitating front relatively to the support or backing.

The invention still further consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

The purpose of the invention is to provide simple and effective means of an inexpensive character for holding mail matter, newspapers and other articles in a positive manner and permitting an expeditious removal of the matter held thereby through a simple manual operation.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a holder or mail box embodying the features of the invention and illustrated as being fully closed. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the holder or box open and mail matter or newspapers held therein. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken in the plane of the line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section of the box shown open as in Fig. 2 and illustrating in dotted hung on any other main supporting means. Y

Fixed to the support 5 is a backing or rear side 6 of t-he holder or box formed with side flanges 7 extending, full length thereof and projecting below the lower edge of the backing to provide attaching means or eyes 8. The backing 6 is preferably secured to the support 5 by fastening devices inserted through the same between the flanges 7, said fastening devices being shown in the present instance as screws 9, though other devices might be used if so desired.

Movably connected to t-he backing or rear side 6 of the holder or box is a bottom section 10 which is similar in its construction to the said backing or rear side and has side flanges l1 which are projected at opposite ends as at 1Q and 13 for convenience in movably associating theV said section with the lower ends of the flanges 7 and with a front or main holding member 13a also formed with side flanges 14: projected at their lower ends as at 15 to provide means for attaching the similarly projected ends of the anges 1l of the bottom section 10. The front side or main holding member 13il is also connected to the fianges 7 of the backing or rear side 6 by links 16 which have their upper ends applied against the outer side of the flanges 7 and their opposite ends applied against the inner sides of the flanges 14 of the front 13a at a suitable distance from the upper end of said front. The front 13a with its flanges let has a greater width than the backing or rear side 6 and folds over the latter and also overthe links 16 and the side flanges 11 of the bottom section 10 when fully closed down. The upper and lower edges of the front or main holding member 13a between the flanges latA are formed with outwardly turned beads 17 to provide smooth edges. The front or main holding member 13a is also formed `with a plurality ,of openings 1S to lighten the or dirt, and also as a convenient means for' reaching and applying or detaching the fastening devices 9. The front or main hold-- ing member 13a is restricted in its upward movement by the links 16 which have their ends attached to the Hanges 14 projected beyond the fulcrum points thereof and squared as at 19, see Fig. 4, to contact with the inner surface of the said front or holding member adjacent to the points of intersection of the flanges 14 therewith.

All the parts ofk the holder or mail box are formed from suitable sheet metal of a non-corrosive character and the anges 7, 11 and 14 are integral with the backing or rear side 6, the bottom section 10 and the frontA or main holding member 13a respectively. The opposite end edges of the bottom section 10 are doubled or bent under as at 20 to provide blunt edges and produce a neat nish. The fulcrum devices for connecting the movable parts will be preferably rivets which are so applied as to prevent the parts which they engage from working loose. It is obvious, however, that other fulcrum means might be used.

In the operation of the device the front or main holding member 13 is manually elevated by engaging the lower edge or bead 17, and the upward movement of the said front will be proportionate to the amount of mail matter or the thickness of the package of newspapers or other articles inserted in the holder or box, it being understood that the front or main holding member 13a will be elevated far enough to render the insertion of the mail matter or papers easy and without friction within a predetermined capacity. After the mail matter, papers or articles have been disposed in the holder or box, the front or main holding member 132L will be released and allowed to gravitate and thereby set up a binding action on the mail matter, papers or articles inserted in the box, and as the said front or main holding member has considerable weight, the binding action thereof on the mail matter, papers or articles in the box will be positive and a reliable retention of the contents of the holder or box will result. As the front or main holding member 13a is elevated to open the box, the bottom section 10 regularly moves upwardly in proportion to the elevation of the said front and serves as a bottom support for the mail matter, newspapers or other articles in the box, as clearlyshown by Figs. 2 and 4. When it is desired to remove the inail matter, newspapers 61 other articles from the box it is only necessary to relax the tensin or binding action of the front oi'l main holding member 13 by slightly elevating the latter and permitting the contents of the box to be readily withdrawn through the top portion thereof. The full capacity of the holder or box is reached when the front or main holding member 13a is restricted in further elevation by the squared ends 19 of the links 16 bearing against the inner side of the front member, as hereinbefore explained and clearly shown by Fig. 4. lVhen the front or `main holding member 13a is fully closed there is an unobstructed opening through the entire length of the holder or box, as clearly shown by Fig. 3, and any moisture or dust that may enter the box will pass downwardly through the same, thus keeping the interior of the box in dry and clean condition.

It will be understood that the proportions, dimensions and minor details of the improved device may be varied atwill within the scope of the claims, and, furthermore, it is proposed to use the device for any purpose to which it may be applicable.

What is claimed as new is: Y

1. In a holder or mail box, the combination of a support consisting of a flat device having side flanges projecting forwardly therefrom, a gravitating front or holder of greater width than the support and provided with inwardly projecting side flanges to fold against and inclose the side flanges of the support, links movably attached to the flanges of the support and gravitating front and also inclosable by the latter when folded, and a bottom section pivotally connected to the lower terminals of the flanges of the support and the front and movable uniformly with the latter either into an outwardly projecting position or inwardly in line with the support.

2. In a holder or mail box, an upright support, a gravitating front or holding member having links movably attached thereto and also movably connected to opposite sides of the support, and a bottom section pivotally connected at its opposite ends respectively to thelower ends of the support and front or holding member and movable uniformly with the movement of said member either into an outwardly projecting position or inwardly into longitudinal lalinement with the support, the said bottom section assuming varying angles with relation to the support and holding member inaccordance with the amount of mail matter interposed between the said support and member.

3. In a holder or mail box, the combination of an upright support, a gravitating front ormholding member having a perforated body.links movably connectedto the Y ing member and movable uniformly With the set our hands in presence of two subscribing said member and disposable into longitudi- Witnesses.

nal alinement with the support when the CHARLES O. KEAGY. parts of the boX are collapsed or folded, the JAMES R. CARMER. lower end of the boX being fully open when Witnesses:

the parts thereof are folded. REGINA E. G. MCCANN,

In testimony whereof We have hereunto F. H. MCCANN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

